Zach in Hawaii

Our resident Bardstown Boaters check in from Hawaii:



Hey Everyone, I have seen and done so many things over the last couple of weeks its hard to explain it all. Here is kind of a run down, There are classic pictures of the infamous chair jumping party in evansville. My personal favorite is of the chair jumping champion himself, i wanted to get his autograph but he brushed me off. So i named my fantasy football team and this email after him. If you dont understand this explanation, give me a call and i will gladly catch you up on it.

The next set of pics are from my trip to Reno NV were Jack let me fly the plane over Tahoe, These pics are beautiful but it should really make you wonder about the status of our nations homeland security when a yahoo like me can pick up the sticks and cruise around. Seriously, thanks jack and christy for the time of my life.
The next set of pics is of the USS Missouri. Check out the guns on this bad boy. It is nicknamed the Mighty Mo and for good reason. This day was awesome because for those of you who may not know. this is the ship where the Japanese surrendered WWII. Really cool stuff. In the background you can see the USS Arizona that was sunk during the attack on Peral Harbor.


 
The other pics are going to be kind of hard to pick out. Some of the pics (like the sun sets and the spearfishing guy) are from the North Shore. Check out the cloud that looks like Kentucky. I poured a splash of beer out to pay homage to the homeland. just kidding that would be wasteful. The pics that look like they are airial shots of Hawaii are from on top of diamond head. That was simply amazing. The pics of the waves splashing on the rocks are from the eastern side of the island called the windward side. Words cannont discribe this, you have to see it
There should be one pic left to talk about. that is the urinal. This is special because if you will notice it has a headrest. Not just any head rest, a very used head rest. im sure there have been times in my own life where i could have used a headrest. Bless the man that thought that up. lol

Well thats about it. i expect to see all of you out here with in the next two years.
love to all

Zach

Bear in the Woods

John checks in from Hawaii:

New River Again

3 ft
McCreery to Stone Cliff

We decided that once wasn't enough so we put together a new crew and headed back to the New.  Emerson Ballard joined us for his inaugural journey, along with Kenny, Jay, Toby and Beastie.  The water level seemed lower than last but it was still great paddling.  The weather was great and camping at Stone Cliff was great.

I started catching a cold at the start of the drive there and by Sunday morning was too sick to paddle.  So in all we only paddled from McCreery to Stone Cliff on Saturday.

We took our time at Silo scouting and taking pictures.  I got to run the canoe through and got that old feeling of whitewater canoeing back.  It made me wish more than ever that I had not missed the Rio Grande Paddle.  Now I have a huge urge to go canoe camping on some whitewater. Maybe I'll look into getting a good deal on a used whitewater canoe. Maybe a Dagger Rival for $300 from a guy in South Carolina.

Emerson swam some this trip.  Beastie did too.  And Toby once, while tearing up some surf.  I know that everyone enjoyed themselves as this easy section of the New is a whole lot of fun to different types of boaters at all levels.  We'll probably be back out there again soon.  Maybe not this year.  But next year is quickly approaching.

Water Shortage Solutions

Wednesday, October 5, 2005 8:21 AM EDT
DAVID MANN The Kentucky Standard

Nelson Fiscal Court and Bardstown City Council want to work together to solve a perceived water shortage in the county.

County Judge Executive Dean Watts said Tuesday during a meeting of Nelson Fiscal Court the two bodies will schedule a joint meeting to address the issue.

Court members as well as councilman John Royalty, who attended Tuesday's Fiscal Court meeting, agreed a joint meeting between the two bodies would be productive.

A date has not been set.

Bardstown Mayor Dixie Hibbs could not be reached for comment. Watts, pointed out however, that she approached him for the meeting. She also mentioned the potential joint meeting at last week's City Council meeting.

Citing recent water supply concerns and recent calls for voluntarily conservation, Nelson Fiscal Court announced its intention to find a new water source.

The Court approved a motion last month allowing Watts to seek federal grant money for a feasibility study to find new sources of water for the county.

For now, Watts said, federal money will have to wait. Congressman Ron Lewis is asking the federal leaders to halt spending on local projects because of hurricanes Rita and Katrina, he noted.

The city supplies about 90 percent of Nelson County's water, according to Hibbs.

Sympson Lake is the primary source of that water. The city also pumps water from the Beech Fork River.

The Beech Fork supplies the city with about a day's supply of water, around 6 million gallons. There are limits, however, on how much the city can take from the source.

According to the Center of Urban and Economic Research, county population is expected to increase by more than 80 percent in the next 30 years.

Watts said last month he would prefer a lake as a solution to the shortage.

A lake would give the community self-dependence and provide an additional recreational area, he said.

Elkhorn is Back

400cfs

Jay and I finally got back on the Elkhorn, after hurricane Katrina finally gave the area some water.  We all thought the huge downpours would bring everything up and for a good while.  That wasn't the case.  New Orleans got obliterated and all we got was a 3 day window on the Elkhorn.  Luckily we got on the Elkhorn by Friday at the last moment.  400 is a good level, plenty of fun to be had at that level.  The weather was magnificent too.  Now we have our sights set back on the New.

The Future

During our past camp trip we decided that for next year we may try to install $10 membership dues. Then use the money to get us listed as an official whitewater club with American Whitewater. This cost $75 per year. Thus giving us more exposure by being listed on there website and in there bi-monthly magazine and hopefully a larger membership base.

We want to also organize another charitable event, maybe something tied in with the Bourbon Festival next year so we can get exposure by being listed in their literature and website as an official bourbon festival event. Something like a Bourbon Float. "Travel down the old Beech Fork river to see the old dam where Evan Williams was first distilled". Something like that.

2006 is all about adding new membership and promoting paddling to the Bardstown community.